Performance assessment and multi-objective optimization of waste-derived low-resistive materials encasing grounding rods in desert soil

Effective grounding schemes are crucial for protecting electrical systems against operational failures in power generation, transmission, and distribution networks. However, the inherently high electrical resistivity of desert soils weakens grounding schemes, necessitating the use of low-resistive agents to achieve acceptable resistivity levels. Traditionally, this has involved the use of expensive, non-renewable commercial products. This paper introduces new low-resistive materials to add to the conventional ones. These materials are extracted from available surrounding agricultural wastes in Egyptian western desert namely; fine-grained coal and wheat husk ash (WHA). First, experimental investigations on using these materials were performed and evaluated at first to decide on its use as back-fill materials around copper grounding rod driven into sandy soil to decrease its ground resistance (R g ). Then, the materials components were optimized by minimizing cost in along with decreasing R g while limiting the corrosion of the rods. The findings confirmed that these materials significantly reduce the measured R g value of one vertical rod from 352.9 to 156.3 Ω for the high-resistivity (sandy) soil. Additionally, the materials mixture is proven to be non-corrosive to copper grounding rods, establishing it as a durable and sustainable alternative to conventional soil enhancement products.